随着廉价原油运抵印度，汽油和柴油价格可能会下降
联邦石油和天然气部长哈迪普·辛格·普里（Hardeep Singh Puri）释放了可能减轻印度消费者负担的信号，表示零售汽油和柴油价格可能很快会下降。这种可能的降价取决于目前国内炼油厂正在处理的低价原油货物的运抵。
滞后效应：为什么价格尚未下降
尽管国际原油市场已显示出走软迹象，但普里部长解释说，由于现有库存的原因，目前还无法直接、立即降低零售价格。目前，石油营销公司（OMCs）正在处理以较高全球价格购买的原油库存。
“目前，各公司持有以较高价格购买的原油库存。当以较低价格购买的原油运抵时，燃料价格有可能下降，”普里在北方邦松布拉德拉举行的新闻发布会上表示。这种“滞后效应”意味着，只有在更新、更实惠的货源经过精炼和分配后，国际基准价格下降带来的好处才会反映在加油站的价格上。
在全球波动中捍卫燃料定价
在回应对通货膨胀和运输成本上升的担忧时，部长为政府的定价策略进行了辩护。他强调，尽管地缘政治紧张局势加剧——特别是在霍尔木兹海峡周边以及持续的中东危机——印度仍设法保护消费者免受极端价格冲击的影响。
普里指出，汽油和柴油价格的总体涨幅被限制在每升约 ₹7.60 左右。为了减轻全球波动的影响，莫迪政府分别在 2021 年 11 月、2022 年 5 月以及最近实施了几轮中央消费税减免，实际上为这两种燃料每升承担了约 ₹10 的负担。他进一步声称，就实际情况而言，与 2022 年俄乌冲突期间的高点相比，印度的燃料价格一直保持相对稳定。
OMCs 面临的压力与经济背景
The stability in consumer prices has come at a significant cost to the energy sector. The Minister revealed that OMCs are currently facing losses of approximately ₹1,000 crore per day. This pressure is exacerbated by the dual challenge of elevated crude prices and a weaker rupee, which makes imports more expensive.
Despite these industry pressures, the government maintains that its intervention has kept India's fuel price increases among the lowest globally. Puri cited a comparison suggesting that out of 193 UN member nations, only Japan has seen a lower increase in petroleum prices than India.
Key Takeaways
- Potential Relief: Retail fuel prices may decrease once the cheaper crude oil currently in transit reaches Indian refineries and replaces higher-priced existing stocks.
- Government Subsidy: The central government has absorbed nearly ₹10 per litre in excise duties to protect consumers from global market volatility.
- Industry Impact: While consumer prices are managed, OMCs are currently navigating significant financial strain, reporting daily losses of around ₹1,000 crore.